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Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene has candidly addressed the reasons behind his team’s narrow 12-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 16 of IPL 2025. In the post-match interview, Jayawardene emphasized the need for greater ruthlessness and smarter execution in critical moments.
Reasons behind MI’s defeat
Missed Opportunities
Jayawardene expressed disappointment over MI’s inability to finish the chase despite being in control for most of the match. “I think halfway point, even at the 14th over mark, we were par score with them,” he said, highlighting that the team had momentum despite losing two early wickets. However, lapses in execution during key moments proved costly. “We just couldn’t finish it,” he added, calling the loss a “setback” for a team that had recently found rhythm after beating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home.
Bowling Concerns
The coach pointed out that MI’s bowlers failed to restrict LSG to a manageable total, conceding 203 runs. He noted that the team leaked too many runs during the powerplay, allowing LSG to reach 69/0 in the first six overs—one of the highest powerplay scores at Lucknow’s venue. While MI skipper Hardik Pandya delivered a sensational five-wicket haul (5/36), Jayawardene felt that better adjustments during the powerplay could have saved 15-20 runs.
Batting Execution
On the batting front, MI’s chase started poorly with both openers dismissed cheaply. Despite strong performances from Suryakumar Yadav (67 off 43) and Naman Dhir (46 off 24), MI faltered in critical moments. Tilak Varma’s struggles led to a rare tactical decision to retire him out in the penultimate over—a move aimed at injecting fresh energy into the chase. However, even Pandya’s late heroics couldn’t bridge the gap as LSG’s bowlers held their nerve under pressure.
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MI’s struggle in away matches
Jayawardene also acknowledged MI’s ongoing struggles in away games, noting that they have lost all three matches on the road this season. Since 2023, MI have won only five of their last 19 away fixtures—a concerning trend for a franchise known for its dominance.
Despite the setback, Jayawardene remained optimistic about MI’s prospects. He emphasized fine-tuning their bowling strategies and improving batting execution to close out games effectively. “We need to be more ruthless when we’re in those kinds of situations,” he said, urging his team to adapt better to conditions and seize opportunities.
